Minot Memories is a blog that pertains to the city of Minot, ND. It is brief glimpses of people, places, things and events of Minot's past that will provide some insight into the history of Minot. This photo Main Street looking south from the railroad tracks about 1940

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Thursday, February 7, 2013

Parker Hotels

The Parker House – Minot’s first hotel was
The Parker House, built in 1886 on the north end of Main Street. It was built
by Mr. & Mrs. W. H. Parker, parents of Clarence Parker. Fire destroyed the
hotel in 1890. In 1896 the Parkers leased the Leland House from the original
owner, Allen Tompkins and bought it from him in 1898. The Leland House was
located on the corner of Main Street and Central Avenue. It was
Minot’s first brick building and boasted 10 rooms with a bath. The Leland House
also had its own sewer system as the city council back then voted down a
proposal for city sewer. The Hotel Leland – in 1904 the Hotel
Leland had 110 rooms that were steam heated, electrically lighted and finely
equipped. The Leland also had a large, pretentious dining room that could seat
1oo people. One of the specialties was
buffalo steaks from the Parker’s famous bufflo herds on their ranch in
the Des Lacs Area. The Leland Hotel building also was the home to many other
businesses on Main Street over the years. The location of the Leland Hotel was
a parking lot on the north end of Main Street at Central Avenue. This location
is now the future home of Art Space which is now under construction. Like the
Phoenix rising out of the ashes, buildings seem to be reincarnating from
parking lots back into buildings.